The short answer is no, because the vehicle is not a registered vehicle (so it can’t go on the road and you need a motorcycle licence for it) and it is not a vehicle that can be used on a public footpath because it’s motorised and considered a motor vehicle.

     A motorised scooter is classified as a motor vehicle if it is powered by a petrol motor, has a maximum power of over 200 watts, and can go faster than 10km/h. This is your motorised esky classification, and means that your motorised esky is considered a motor vehicle, and can only be used on the road if it’s registered (which is impossible) and the rider has a motorcycle licence or a learner permit, which you may or may not have. You can use it freely on private property though.

Motorised eskies come under the ‘wheeled recreational devices’ category, and these smaller vehicles and devices come with their own (expanding) rules.

A wheeled recreational device includes scooters, skateboards, roller blades or roller skates, but wheeled recreational devices do NOT include bikes, golf buggies, prams, strollers, trolleys, wheelchairs, wheeled toys, and scooters that are a motor vehicle (with 200 watts output or more, which includes motorised eskies).

     Traffic offences concerning unregistered unlicensed driving on the roads or footpath
You can be charged with various offences if caught by the police riding a motorised esky on the road or footpath in any capacity. This means you don’t have to be going anywhere for this to be a problem, but simply riding around outside the front of your house will get you in trouble. You can also be caught drink driving on a motorised esky, which is illegal and in some situations, you could lose your driver’s licence as a result, and face fines, the same as if it was a registered vehicle.

Caught out? Call Vanessa Ash for expert advice on your traffic infringements.